The Tri-State area of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia has been battling the issues of food insecurity and food deserts for many years.  There has been in influx of the population that has fallen below the poverty line in the recent 5 years and the number of those that are homeless have increased as well.  One program that has been working to help provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those individuals that would not normally have access to these is the Master Gardener Program at the Federal Correctional Institution in Ashland, Ky.  Approximately 22 years ago the facility started to partner with the local Extension Service to offer the Master Gardner educational program to inmates at the camp facility.  When looking for ways for these inmates to get their volunteer time to achieve their certification, it was suggested that they start a garden to raise produce in.  In 2009 the facility had a change in some of their guidelines and needed to find a way to continue the garden and this is when the Extension Service and the Federal Prison partnered with a local food distribution entity.  River Cities Harvest serves the tri-state area food banks and community kitchens with pre-packaged food items that are donated through their local partners but they lack having large amounts of fresh produce to help these partners to better serve their clients with healthy options when possible.  With this new partnership they have been able to supply their local partners with thousands of pound of fresh, locally grown produce.  This past growing season of 2023 showed a significant increase in the amount that they received from this partnership with over 120,000 pounds of produce being produced in the 6 acre garden at the Federal Prison.